The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-27
A MIGHTY CHANGE.


Truly is the Iong-hoped for era of
good feeling descending upon US. IN
the Third District Court, on Monday,
Mr. Elias Morris was tried on an indict
ment charging unlawful cohahitation.
The proceedings we're conducted in
about such a manner as we might ex-
pect trial of the kind to be managed
IN another State or Territory; the wit
nesses were not brow-beaten and
abused, but questioned in a respe ctful
earnest manner with the view to learn
ing the facts and spreading them be-
fore the jury; the judges charge was
fair and in harmony with the law; the
District-Attorney was earnest but not
venomous, manifesting desire to bring
about a conviction if guilt were proven,
but evidently not bent on sending an
innocent man to the Peniten: larry;
the jury did not assume that as the
accused was a Mormon charged with
unlawful cohebitation it must as mat
ter of course, declare him guilty, re-
CARELESS of the showing made in the
case. The witnesses were frank with
their testimony, truthful beyond a
doubt and sought to withhold nothing.
The evidence showed an honest, con-
soientious and manly attempt on the
part of Mr.. Morris to conform to the
law; he did not turn his plural wife
odr;ff m In fnr horCaIf and
rem, but while providing for her, dis
continued marital relations as the law
contemplated he should do. The facts
were frankly and fully laid before the
jury, and very properly there came a
prompt acquittal.
We call attention to this case because
it is so unlike anything that has &C.
Cured in the past, and for the purpose
Of expressing a hope that it is to be
understood as indicating a new
depa. ture from the old and ugly order
Of things. The time was, and it was
only little while ago. when Mr.. Morris
would have been declared guilty and
sentenced to the maximum penalty of
The law on the shaving presented
yesterday. His honest attempt to COM
ply with the spirit and letter of the
law would have availed him not at all.
We congratulate Mr.. Morris, and also
the court and its officers. Had the
same fair and just course been pursued
at the oItset IN the trial of accused
Mormons, this community would have
been spared much trouble, pain and
expense. the law would have been com-
piled with quite as much as has been
the case, and there would have been
far better and more harmonious feeling
in the community; in fact there
would have been little or none
of the hate and bitterness which have
prevailed here during the past few
years. 1t is because the Mormons
could not have such fair trials as was
given in this case, because guilt was
assumed without regard to testimony,
because it was impossible to be Just to
their families and still conform their
households te the requirements of the
courts, that the people have COM
planned. There would have been no
complaint if the methods employed by
the courts had been such as would have
been pursued and tolerated in other
communities.
We sincerely hope new order of
procedure has been inaugursted, in
which event the guilty will no oftener
escape, but the reign of terror will come
to an end ii the feeling that fair trials |
and justice will prevail in the courts.
The effect will be at once visible in the
restoration of confidence and a cessa-
ton of the unhappy and ruinous
condition OF things that have prevailed
so long.